0 / / c 18 16 14 12 10 0 8 6 4 2 0 - e - women late ARM - a - men late ARM - * - women early ARM men early ARM

METHODS. A population-based survey examined 3654 people aged 49 years or older, 82% of whom were permanent residents in an area west of Sydney, Australia. Participants had a detailed eye examination, including standardized refraction and stereo macular photographs. ARM was diagnosed from blinded photographic grading. Autorefractor measurements and subjective refraction were used to assess SEq refractive error for each eye in diopters. Mean SEq of the two eyes was used to define emmetropia, myopia, and hyperopia in each person.